President and General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches on a visit to Russia

PRESIDENT AND GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES ON A VISIT TO RUSSIA

An official visit to Russia by the leaders of the Conference of European Churches, the Most Rev. Metropolitan Jeremias of France, Exarch of Iberia (Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Rev.Dr.Keith Clements, President and General Secretary of the CEC respectively, took place from January 23 to 26. It was the first official visit of the CEC leaders elected last year to our country at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia, the Primate of the CEC largest member church.

On January 24 the delegation was received in the Department for External Church Relations where they met the leadership and staff members of the DECR. Discussed at the meeting were the prospects of participation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the work of the CEC.

On January 25, Metropolitan Jeremias of France concelebrated with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy at the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Assumption in the Moscow Kremlin. Attending the Divine service was Rev.Dr.Keith Clements, General Secretary of the CEC. After the Liturgy the high guests met with His Holiness the Patriarch.

During their visit the guests could get acquainted with diaconical and educational initiatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and also with the holy places and places of interest in Moscow.

During the visit the guests also met with the leadership of the Union of the Evangelical Christian Baptists of Russia.